Paper deflector



July 12, 1927.

L- R. TUFTS PAPER DEFLECTOR Filed Dec. 22. 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet l July 1 1927- R. TUFTS PAPER DEFLECTOR Filed Dec. 22. 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 mocntoz LESLY'R.TUPTE.

July 12, 1927. L- R. TUFTS' PAPER DEFLECTOR Filed Dec. 22. 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 10 the bottom to Patented July 12, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,635,197 PATENT OFFICE.

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My invention relates to improvements in paper deflectors and-has for its ob ect the provision of means preferably with; cont'nuous sheet-feeding mechanism,

whereby the sheets of paper will he supphed to the eed table and eeding rolls in evenly displaced or fanned-out arrangement for presentation to said rolls; and more particuarly to the provision of means adapted for 0 handling relatively short sheets of pa r.

Continuous feeding mechanism 0 the type to which my improvements are herein applied, by way of example, affords two levels, usually comprising feeding belts traveling over feeding tables arranged one above the other, whereon said belts travel in reverse direction. The upper level or table is supplied by the atten ant with the sheets of paper fanned-out forwardly from the top of the pile and suitable deflector means are provided for reversing the arrangement of the fanned-out sheets and properly positioning them upon the lowertable.

B5 Hitherto certain difliculty has been exrienced in ada ting deflector mechanism fdr operation wi sheets of varying length and, more es cially, with the shorter sheets of paper which not infrequently would slip forwardly or out of alinement as the superposed sheets were leaving the deflector mechanism. Quite obviously such slippage interferes with the operation of the associ ated paper-feeding and handling mechanism.

Accordingly, I h ave supplied suitably spring-tensioned resilient members in the deflector mechanism of this type, whereby the sheets are retained in proper relation and are uninterru tedly delivered in alinement to the lower eed table.

The features of my improved construction may be more readily explained in connection with the accompanyin drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment thereof, where- Figure 1 is a side view of a two-level continuous sheet-feeding mechanism to which my improvements have been adapted andapplied,

Fig. 2 is an interrupted plan view thereof on the irregular line 22, Fig. 1, the lefthand portion of the upper feed table being breizen away,

as Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical section illustrating m improved sheet deflector upon .an enlar scale, with a pile of fanned-out sheets in transit therethrough, and

Fillg. 4 IS a similar view thereof showing a p of fanned-out sheets about to be entered within said deflector.

ut the several figures of the (113% I have employed the same character of reference to indicate similar parts.

may imtially be made to Figarea 1 and 2, from which it will be observed that the shpet-f lmechanism comprises an upper eedmg e a superposed at a sl1ght le above the lower feeding table 6; said tables res tively being nipped with sets of travelm belts a, b when :m the sheetsareconvey respectively in reverse directions. Lateral guides a", bf are adjustably mounted in position to direct the sheets in alinement toward the deflector mechanism upon the-right of the machine, and toward the feedin rolls upon the left 0 the apparatus herein 510 It may be observed at this point that preferably the sheets are supplied to and throughout the continuous feeding mechamsm in a substantially continuous or uninterrupted thickness of superposed fannedout sheets of paper, as nearly as may be, extending from a position rearwardly or to the left of the deflector mechanism and along the lower feeding table I) to the rolls a, c at the left. However, for the purpose of present illustration and description I have shown merely two bundles or sections of superposed sheets d, d, suitably faimed-out respectively upon the upper and lower feedmg tables. The former, d, is manually disupon the table a and the conveyor belts a and is properl fanned-out b the operative for ough the d wtor mechanism, as indicated in Fig. 3, while the latter sect-ion, d, exhibits the reverse arrangement of the sheets after passing through the deflector, adapting them for the action of the feeding rolls 0, c. In this arrangement the forward edges of the sheets overlie and extend beyond the forward edgls of those beneath them in the particular group or section, and, in practice, this mode of superposition is maintained as nearl continuous as posible in order to expedite operations and increase produdzion.

The particular mechanism for effecting the deflection and reversal of the sheet arrangement may now be explained by making reference'to Figures 3 and 4; in the latter of which the edges of the fanned-out sheets at are shown forwardly advancing beneath the curved resilient members e that are adjustably mounted along the rod 6 to conform with the particular Width of paper in progress through the deflector, and, generally, with the contour of the preferred th1ckness of the section of sheets as it is passing around the cylinder f of the deflector, as shown in Fig. 3.

In order to adapt the deflector mechanism for use with sheets of paper of radically different lengths, and more particularly, relatively short sheets, I have provided a second series of curved resilient members 9 adjustably mounted along the rod 9' and tensioned to react against the cylinder and superposed paper by means of the adjustable spring g. These members 9 are in staggered and overlapping relation with respect to the resilient members 6, whereby the sheets are maintained within the em brace of the upper and lower resilient members throughout approximately 180" circumferentially of the cylinder f.

Accordingly, the reversed sections of sheets are maintained in their relative fanned-out relation and in alinement as the same are transferred to the traveling belts b of the lower feeding table, along and with which said sheets are conveyed toward and between the feeding rolls 0, c, for transfer to folding or printing apparatus, for example, not shown herein. The details of the auxiliary mechanism do not require further description or illustration to make clear the construction and purpose of my instant improvements.

An im ortant advantage attainable by the use 0 upper and lower resilient members, particularly when short sheets of paper are being handled in the machine, is found in the retention of such sheets by the upper series of members until they are well within the embrace of the lower series of resilient members. Moreover, since the lower resilient members have their independent tensioning means, these members will not release a stack of short sheets when a thicker stack is entered at the upper portion of the reversing cylinder; an undesirable result not infrequently occurring when a single series of retaining members is relied upon in this type of machine for maintaining the relative arrangement of the reversed sheets.

It has been found that with the construction shown sheets of any workable length a may be handled through the proper adjustment of the closely embracing sets of resilient members provided for the deflector mechanism.

Having now described the preferred embodiment of my invention and its manner of use, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, the following:

1. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with means for conveying and reversing the arrangement of sheets of paper, of upper and lower sets of resilient members associated with said means and adapted to bear upon and maintain the relative arrangement of the sheets throughout their course of reversal in said apparatus, and independent tensioning means for both sets of resilient members, substantially as set forth.

2. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a rotatable reversing cylinder, of upper and lower sets of resilient members associated therewith and adapted to bear peripherally upon the cylinder and any superposed sheets throughout the course of the latter during reversal and release of the sheets, and independent tensioning means for both sets of resilient members, substantially as set forth.

3. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with substantially superposed feeding tables, of a reversing cylinder interposed between said feeding tables, a plurality of resilient members engaging the lower portion of the cylinder, and spring-actuated means for holding said resilient members in position to retain the arrangement of the sheets, substantially as set forth.

4. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a rotatable reversing cylinder, of upper and lower sets of adjustable resilient members arranged in terminallyoverlapping relation about the cylinder, independent tensioning means respectively associated with both sets of resilient members, and means for securing their adjustment, substantially as set forth.

5. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a reversing cylinder, of means for conveyin sheets peripherally thereof, and adjusta le resilient members positioned in independent sets above and below but adjacent to said cylinder approximately embracing it for 180 and adapted to retain the relative arrangement of the sheets during reversal and delivery, substantially as set forth.

6. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with two feeding tables, of reversing means interposed therebetween, and a plurality of adjustable resilient members associated with said means and positioned below and rearwardly. of said reversing means to direct the sheets immediatel upon the second feeding table in unaltered but reversed arrangement, substantially as set forth.

7. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a reversing cylinder, of

means for conforming the sheets to the upper curvature of said cylinder, and a series of tensioned resilient members positioned adjacent to the lower surface of said cylinder and adapted independently to retain the relative arrangement of the sheets until their reversal and delivery have been completed, substantially as set forth.

8. En apparatus of the class described, the

19 cembinatien with a reversing cylinder, of

means fer conveying sheets peripherally thereof, and enacting upper and, lower sets of resilient members positioned adjacent to said cylinder; said lower set being indep nden'tly tensioned and adapted to retain the relative arrangement of shert sheets until their delivery substantially as set forth.

In 'testiino whereof I do new affix my signature imp nth day of December, 1924.

LESLEY R. TUFTS. 

